How do you break a FEL?

[Egon]

John; there are many other methods that will break loader welds.

My Little B7100 loader has had most of the factory welds redone. But there was no damage to hydraulic cylinders.

Its also had the bucket cutting edge wore out and replaced. The bottom wore thin and was built up. Added support was added to the side edges of the bucket also.

 

[Surewhynot]

The main thing I learned from this site is to use the FEL with care. This was reinforced when I read about a farmer here in Iowa who died from rolling his tractor using the FEL. What was he doing you ask? He and his son were using the FEL as a sledge to drive fence posts! The news story had his son saying that they did that all the time, just this time they were on an incline. I read my manual again to find that feature for the FEL and using it as a huge hammer wasn't mentioned It is always sad to hear of someone who gets killed using their equipment for something other than it was designed for.

I am fairly new to FEL's but from what I have learned here from the good folks who are more than willing to part with their knowledge and also through the seat time I have gotten, reading the manual thoroughly and taking your time with what your doing will protect both you and your FEL.

 

[davitk]

It is always sad to hear of someone who gets killed using their equipment for something other than it was designed for.

I agree someone getting injured or killed is sad, but if I cannot use a tool for something it was not designed for, I may as well hang up my apron and go home. I'll be darned if I'm gonna stop using my FEL to take the trash cans to the curb

 

[Surewhynot]

Trash cans to curb? That is allowed

If Trash = Load, then a Front End Loader can be used! But I know what you are saying and also know you can use tools other then for the intended use, i.e. screwdriver as a jack handle, ratchet wrench handle as a hammer etc..

I was only saying that perhaps using the FEL for a inexperienced user (yes I put myself in that category) is best limited to its designed use for a while before trying to get creative. After some seat time and familiarity with the equipment, well, use it as a diving board for the above ground pool if you feel like it and are willing to accept the consequences.

 

[SkunkWerX]

I came close to a big mistake today, almost putting the tractor on its side. I had a bucket full of rocks and I approached the dump point at a bit of an angle to the slope. I started to raise the bucket as I approached the point and the tractor got unstable for a momemt. Cheaply learned a valuable lesson..don't raise a heavy load to dump until you are stopped and stable at your dump point.

Sniggles,

For your first question, avoid racking the FEL , as others have described.

I learned a technique to help when lifting a heavy load for a FEL dump.
As long as you are not loading a trailer, pick-up truck, or filling a farm bin, there is not a big need to lift high up off the ground to dump. ONLY lift as high as necessary, given your situation.

Begin your dump with the bucket at the height you were carrying. Don't make your first motion raising, as is the natural habit. Start by uncurling (dumping). Then as the front lip of the bucket is ready to touch the ground, start raising and keep uncurling so that your load is exiting the bucket very close to the ground as you raise the FEL.

If you are trying to make a pile, you can unload the first few heavy loads using this method, but, then, you will just have to take smaller/lighter (reasonable) bites as you build your pile.

Another caution: Since you mentioned rocks....Beware of shifting loads!!
Rocks, gravel, dry sand can shift in your bucket. if you are on facing a slope they can shift forward, if your are angled they can shift sideways.
A shifting load can cause a machine to go over sideways in a Split Second.

Ballast. Do you have some? if you are moving rocks you really need some. You can rig it onto your 3PH, can even be a heavy attachment like a box blade with some bags of sand on it, when you are ready to raise the load for dumping, you can lower the 3PH so the weight is as far back, and as low as possible. When I am using weight on my 3PH I try to set as low as possible, without scuffing the ground while in transport.

Wheel weights and filled tires help. So would a dedicated ballast Box on your 3PH.

Going over sideways may not break the FEL, but it can sure injure your body and cause havoc with the rest of the machine.
Going over Sideways=Not Fun.

 

[john_bud]

John; there are many other methods that will break loader welds.

Oh, I'm sure there are!


But some things are best learned on your own....

jb

 

[daTeacha]

Other tips --

Don't raise the load while moving.
Don't drive around with the bucket raised above the axle.
Don't lower a full bucket quickly and then suddenly stop it part way down.

Remember that a hill will affect the COG of the tractor. Going uphill you can comfortably carry more of a load than going down the same hill. Picking up a load that's on a hill should be done from straight downhill if at all possible.

Sidehills can be especially tricky. Go straight up or straight down, or as close to that as possible. Crossing a slope at 45 degrees is never a good idea, worse going down than up.

A "hill" can be something as small as the side of a ditch, depending on the size of your tractor.

 

[Egon]

Picking up a load that's on a hill should be done from straight downhill if at all possible.

I like doing that going downhill. Makes for a lot easier loading.

 

[N80]

I have not been able to break the loader on my L4400 and I've applied a considerable amount of determination and stupidity.

 

[Egon]

Let me have a go at it!